Elon Musk said he’ll talk to Trump about $5,000 “DOGE Dividend” refund for Americans

By isabelle // 2025-02-20

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Elon Musk said he'll discuss a proposal for a $5,000 "DOGE Dividend" tax refund for every American taxpayer using the $55 billion in savings DOGE has created.
The proposal, suggested by an investment expert, aims to return 20% of DOGE's savings to taxpayers.
DOGE, led by Musk, has saved billions by cutting wasteful federal spending through fraud detection, contract cancellations, and workforce reductions.
The idea has gained traction and sparked debate, with Trump calling the savings "tremendous" and defending Musk's role.
Despite criticism, the proposal has ignited a national conversation on government accountability and could offer a tangible benefit to taxpayers.

Elon Musk said he will talk to President Donald Trump about a groundbreaking proposal: a $5,000 “DOGE Dividend” tax refund for every American taxpayer. The idea, which would return a portion of the $55 billion in savings generated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has sparked widespread interest and debate. The proposal comes after Musk, appointed by Trump to lead DOGE, spearheaded an aggressive campaign to eliminate wasteful federal spending. Through fraud detection, contract cancellations, and workforce reductions, DOGE has already saved taxpayers billions. Now, Musk and Trump may be considering how to give some of that money back to the people.

A bold idea gains traction

The concept of a “DOGE Dividend” was first floated by James Fishback, CEO of Azoria Investment Firm, who took to X to suggest that 20% of DOGE’s savings should be returned to taxpayers. “American taxpayers deserve a ‘DOGE Dividend’: 20% of the money that DOGE saves should be sent back to hard-working Americans as a tax refund check,” Fishback wrote. “It was their money in the first place!” Musk responded with curiosity, stating, "Will check with the President,” signaling that the idea was under serious consideration. If implemented, the plan could provide a $5,000 refund to each of the 78 million tax-paying households in the U.S., with the remaining savings used to pay down the national debt.

How DOGE saved $55 billion

Since its inception, DOGE has targeted inefficiencies across federal agencies, including the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Savings were achieved through measures such as canceling contracts for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training, ending subscriptions to news outlets like Politico, and reducing the federal workforce. Trump has praised Musk’s efforts, calling the savings “tremendous” and emphasizing the need to root out corruption and waste. “We got elected to, among other things, find all of this fraud, abuse, all of this horrible stuff going on,” Trump said in a recent Oval Office address.

Economic implications and political pushback

While the idea of a $5,000 refund has excited many Americans, Democrats and federal workers have criticized DOGE’s cuts, with some labeling Musk an “unelected oligarch” who should not have access to government data. Despite the backlash, Trump has defended Musk’s role, emphasizing that the billionaire’s work aligns with his administration’s mandate to reduce government spending.

What’s next?

While no formal decision has been made, the proposal has ignited a national conversation about government accountability and fiscal responsibility. If implemented, the DOGE Dividend could mark a historic shift in how taxpayer dollars are managed, offering Americans a tangible benefit from the reductions that are being made to federal waste. As discussions continue between Musk, Treasury Secretary Vivek Ramaswamy, and senior White House officials, one thing is clear: The idea of returning money to taxpayers has struck a chord. Whether it becomes reality remains to be seen, but for now, the possibility of a $5,000 check has given Americans something to hope for—and a reason to pay closer attention to how their tax dollars are spent. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com DailyMail.co.uk Newsweek.com